Now I'm not sure what the flat thing is that is growing from the axis of the leaf on the right. All the other pseudobulbs have only one leaf. Is this a spike or a leaf?

Here it is from the side. It is leathery like the leaves. The plant is Pot. Deanna Sandera 'Indiana'

Susan you are such a sweet newbie!! Yes that is a spike!!!!!! you may want to very very gently release that bud from where it is curled in (if it looks stuck). A delicate operation for sure, but i think you are up to it. Of course, we all have broken buds off many times (in my case) so forgive yourself if that happens. The spike will want to aim towards the light and if it's stuck it will continue to be growing curled.
More good news! The flat thing is called a sheath! That is where another spike is forming!!!!! Sometimes they grow slowly inside and sometimes they move along. Sometimes if the buds seem stuck inside, I slit one edge of the sheath to allow the spike to emerge easier. It's a bit like childbirth!

Thanks Kathy. How exciting to be expecting. Now I have seen a shealth and a spike. A few more years and I'll feel like an old pro.

Susan

Naw, we all get this excited over a spike! Right, Ursula?

You betcha!!!

That's good to know. I think we all need to be passionate about something. I have always loved flowers. Almost drown at age two wading into a pond trying to pick a waterlily. First time I remember really being in trouble.

I gently helped with birthing the second bud above and it came out fine. Here is a spike on Burr. Stefan Isler. Looks like it will have lots of flowers. The seller says it is almost always in bloom for her.

Cool! Love your story Susan!!! Glad you didn't drown.

I took the camera around cage and deck yesterday, ( pics to follow in the "growing area") and jumped for joy!! My Mexipedium xerophyticum is in spike!!!
Now you have to understand - I bought this one in 2004 in the form of such a tiny thing, it was basically 1 small leaf with some roots. I paid 40 bucks for that, swallowing hard. I was told of the rarity of the plant and how fast it will bloom on a very small plant. Suuuure. I babied this thing along for YEARS. It grew and grew and consist now of several beautiful plants, never showing the slightest hint of a spike.
I bought this March another small plant just as comparison, thinking that it was maybe my plant?

Well, just like a couple adopting a baby and then welcoming their own baby another year later, the old 2004 plant is spiking!!

And here is another one - Cattleya aclandiae. I am growing a couple of these for some years now, never seeing a peep of a bud.
Lookie here!! ready to pop!! My very first ever C aclandiae is about to bloom!

My Anguloa virginalis is getting ready to bloom. I thought it might be nice to to see the new growth of the season emerging along with the spikes.
This one had dropped the old leaves very late in the season and I was afraid it might not bloom this Spring, but here we go.

OMG, CONGRATS!!!!! I totally know how hard it is to take on a rarity like Mexipedium xerophyticum! I am very excited for you Ursula!!
(I have decided not to get one until I really get my act together since I tend to kill anything rare and expensive. My act may never get together though! )

I guess perserverence pays off!!!

That is a long time to wait for a bloom. Bet you are jumping for joy!

Ohh yes, still elated about that one. Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong!!

Your buds are so beautiful to see, Ursula!
Sometimes I think watching the growth cycle is more interesting than the flower!
Please keep posting the changes, so we can see this amazing evolution.

will do!!

this is what you call anticipation...i have 10 phals in spike and there un-named and ive never seen the flowers. I had to pot them up with spikes so who knows if they'll even open. fingers crossed!

I have a spike or 2 on all my cymbidiums and they take so long to form and open....hehe!